The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-30
And While Declining to Make Speech Be-
fore that Organization, Points Out
the Illegality of Its Existence.
Commissioners Appointed to Settle the
Complicated Fisheries Question.
Simple and Unostentatious Manner in Which
President Cleveland Will Make His Jour-
ney to the West and South-Notes.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.

THE CIVIL SERVICE
Commissioners Oberiy Lectures His Fellow.
Democratic Office-Holders.
Special to the indianapolis journal
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29.-Civil-service Com
missioner Oberly has declined invitation of
the Illinois Democratic Association to address
that body, on the ground that it would be an i'm
proper act tis part. he is intrusted with the
administration of a non-partisan Law, to take
part in a partisan demonstration.
In his letter Commissioner Oberly says: 1.-THE
commission holds that entrance into and con-
tinuance in that part of the executive civil serv
ice known the classified civil service should
be upon the merit of the applicant employe,
without regard to his political opinions afiiia-
tons This position is justified by many
siderations, all of which lead to the conclusion
that the civilservios act of 1883 was enacted for
It follows. therefore, that this law should be
ecuted in a strictly non partisan manner; and
from this proposition logically follows the con-
clusion that no officer charged with it's
execution can be effective in the discharge of
that duty If. by active participation in party
politics, he destroys the confidence OF the public
in his fairness and mpartiality. civil-service
commissioner a eivil-seryice examiner, as
d member of political committee, a member.
patron encourager of political association,
imposed of persons in the public service, all
members Of political party, organized for
the purpose of putting certain political 2artisans
into and of excluding other political partisans
from Office, would certainly be out of place. and
the public would be justified In the conclusion
that, in the discharge of his official duties, he
might bear unfairly against political opponents
and lean partially toward party friends. The
commission has expressed the opinion
that a Republican in the public
haa
political views. and to give at the proper time,
strong expression to those views. This position
sistency with the position that the Illinois Dem
ocratie Association may not, with propriety. be
patronzed or encouraged; 1t may be held that
there can be no legal or other good objection
that can be urged against the policy of Demo
Gratis In the public service organizing, as you
have done. for the purpose of being active In
efforts promote the interest of the admins
tratlon. In other words, it may be said that
there is unwillngness on my part to give to
the Democratic Office. .nolser the same partisan
privileges that are accorded a. OF right to the
Republican ofice-holder. A candid considera-
ton of the Illinois Democratic Association, in
the light shed on 1t by several sections OF the
civil service act, will, however. show you thai
my objection such assoeistions-to partisan
associations of Office -ho,ders-are based upon q
strong foundation, which no partisan sophisfry
can destroy or even weaken"
Mr.. Oberly then quotes the sections of the
civil-servce act III and 14) which prohibit en-
ployes from either giving or receiving political
Now, does it not follow that officers, clerks
and other persons in the service of thu United
States who organized for political purposes,
and who, by initiation fees. dues and contrlbu-
tons. defray the expenses of this organization,
violating Sections IL and IA of the civil
service act7 They are giving-they are handing
over-to officers clerks. or other persons in the
service of the United States, aud these persons,
acting officers OF the association reprssen
tatves of the associated officers clerks and other
persons in the service of the United States,
are receiving money for political purposes,
money TO be applied to the promotion of politi-
cal objects 1t should not be forgotten that the
provisions OF the civilservice act TO which |
have referred, and other similar provisions of
that act passed while the Republican
party was in power, and when, by perverting
instrum n taities, the Republicans were using
the public service for partisan purposes; when
the Republican party are filling the civil service
with men and women, not because they would
be efficient public servants, but for the reason
that they or their friends had been active in ad
vancng the political fortune of some memb
of that party; when. having thus appointed men
and women for partisan reasons only, the Repub
lican party then robbed them by assessments
and by solicitations accompanied by open or
hinted threats of dismissal; when, for the pur-
pose OF making its frequent attempts at this
kind of robbery effective, it organized the Re-
publican State associations, and used them in
taking from the purses OF its victims money that
needed in the support and education of
families dependent upon the persons who were
compelled TO heed the partisan demand to
stand and deliver
the penal sections of the civil-ssrvice act were
aimed at this system of robbery by assessment
and soliciting. and at all the nstrumen taiites by
which that system WAS made effective. Demo-
Gratis applauded the enactment of those provi-
sions, and congratulated themselves upon the
proba hility that they would destroy the 1nalig-
feature of the Repub State associations
located at Washington. and give to the Democratic
party fair chance, in fair fight, for the presi-
dency. And the Democrats were not mistaken.
The clauses of the civil-service act did break the
power of the partisan collector who robbed the
clerks of the departments by using the Repubii-
can State associations as his weapons of assault
and his burglar tools. Over this result Dem
ocrats everywhere rejoiced: and in 1884. a
consequence OF the enactment OF the civil service
act. they had fair fight with their opponents
and a famous victory. And now, may
not be excused for saying that Democrats should
not initiate the worst practices of the worst Re-
publicans, by organizing the officers, clerks.
and other employees OF the departments
the purposes of which are partisan, and all the
money collected or expended by which is money
collected and expended. given and handed over,
received and applied, as the law expresses IT, for
partisan purposes, and for the promotion OF po
itical objects, all of which practices the civil
service law denounces as unlawful. as punisha-
BILE by fine and imprisonment, when the parties
to the practices persons in the service of the
United States. / believe the Democrats should
practice in power what they preached while out
of power and that they should follow the
evil example set them by the party they have
succeeded in the administration of the affairs of
the Republic"
The lctter of Commissioner Oberly was read
before the Illinois Democratic Association
night, and referred TO an executive committee.
II is understood that the association will retain
the legality of Commissioner Ooerly's coEstruc-
ton of the law
THE FISHERIES DISPUTE.